Automobile fan



C. E. JEFFERS May 9, 1933.

AUTOMOBILE FAN Filed May 29, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Clarence E@118);

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A TTORNEY- C. E. JEFFERS May 9, 1933.

AUTOMOBILE FAN Filed May 29, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet -2 mm m V I m m m a ATTORNEYJ Patented May 9, 1933 um'rsn stares earnsr caries;

CLARENCE E. J EFIERS, OF YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGIIOR, BY MES'NEASSIGNMENTS,

TO HOUDAILLE-HERSHEY CORPORATION, A. CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN AUTOMOBILEFAN Application filed May 29, 1928. Serial No. 281,536.

This invention relates to a fan structure designed for use in connectionwith the cooling systems of automobile engines. The in vention is moreparticularly concerned with the problem of automatically andcontinuously effecting proper lubrication of such fans and witheffecting economies in the com mercial production of such automaticallylubricated fans.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide afan structure which is capable of continuous and efficientselflubrication and which can be commercially produced at a minimumcost.

More particularly, this invention contemplates the production of aself-lubricating fan wherein a majority of the parts may be formed fromsheet metal by simple and inexpensive stamping and bending operations.

Also, this invention embraces the thought of minimizing the number ofnecessary parts and of facilitating production and assembly by certainnovel features of construction and arrangement of the elements and unitscomprising the fan.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will bemore easily understood after an inspection of the accompanying drawingsand the following descrip tion thereof.

Fig. l is a view in longitudinal section of a fan constructed inaccordance with the objects of this invention,

Fig. 2 is an end view partly in section, taken in the plane of the line22 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows Fig. 3 is adetail view in section according to line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a detail view in longitudinal section taken on line 44 of Fig.2 and Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of one of the lubricantcollecting elements.

The fan element of my improved device embraces in its construction aspider consisting of a circular sheet metal disc or plate 1 from whichextend a plurality of radially directed arms or extensions 2. The arms 2are preferably formed integral with the spiderl and this unitarystructure may con- 1 veniently be formed from sheet metal by a simplestamping operation. Fan blades 3 are mounted upon the arms and securedthereto by rivets or equivalent means. The

desired feathering of the blades is accomplished by suitably bendingarms 2.

The central disc portion of the fan spider is secured to the end face ofa radial flange i: and is supported thereby. This flange is formedintegral with and extends radially from an end of an elongated hub orsleeve 5. A relatively stationary spindle 6 affords a rotative bearingsupport for hub 5 and the assembly carried thereby.

It Willbe appreciated that the structure thus far described is completein so far as fundamental operativeness is concerned. However, it isapparent that the bearing surfaces of spindle 6 and sleeve, 5 must beprovided with some means of lubrication and it is with such a means thatthe present invention is chiefly concerned. To this end, a cylin dricallubricant reservoir 9 is secured to the fact'of flange 4 opposite thefan spider in concentric relation with and surrounding spindle 6 andsleev 5. Flange 4: isformed 75 with a shoulder 8 of a diameter toreceivethe cylindrical end of reservoir 9 and a radial flange 11 of thereservoir bears against the corresponding face of flange 4. Securingbolts 10 pass through registering apertures in the disc portion of thespider and flanges 4: and 11. Suitable gaskets are interposed betweenthe meeting faces of these elements for preventing the escape oflubricant. The end wall 12 of the reservoir encircles spindle 6 and .85is provided with a lubricant collector 13 for preventing leakage oflubricant around the spindle. Suitable packing may also be used inconjunction with this collector.

The face of flange 4 adjacent the disc 1 90 is centrally recessed for asubstantial axial distance to form a closed chamber between the disc andthe face of the flange which lies in the plane of the end of sleeve 5. Apassage 21 in the flange places this chamber in communication with thelubricant reservoir.

The spindle 6 has formed integrally therewith, adjacent its outer end,an element 22 which serves the dual function of a thrust bearing memberand a lubricant conveyor. As best illustrated in Fig. 1, this element 22is in bearing engagement with the end of sleeve 5, thus acting to takethe outward thrust of thissleeve and the fan assembly carried thereby Asshown in Fig. 2 the element 22 is formed with radial pockets 24 ofsufficient depth to expose the meeting surfaces of the sleeve andspindle, Thus, it is apparent that lubricant collected in the pocketswill be fed to these bearingsurfaces. I

Disposed within the chamberf-ormed by flange 4 and disc 1 is my improvedlubricant collecting device. The elements of this device and theirrelationship are best illustrated in detail views 3, 4, and 5, fromwhich willbe seen that it comprises but two simple parts, namely, acollector 26 and a cup'or housing 25. The collector, shown in detail inFig. 5, is

formed as a disc having a plurality of circumferentially spaced radialcorrugations 28, defining between them lubricant collecting pockets 29of generous proportions. The bottom wall ofeach of these pockets isprovided with an aperture 30 and the collector is so arranged withreference to the thrust member 22 that the apertures lie in registrationwith the pockets 24 as shownin Fig. 2. Immediately beneath one or moreof the apertures 30,

. the radial wall of the collector isformed with an inwardly directedlug or depression 31 which is so arranged with reference to the axis ofthe spindle that such lug seats in the bottom of the adjacent pocket 24of the thrust member 22. Two such lugs are preferably employed asindicated in Fig. 2 and their-purpose is to form an interlock betweenthe lubricant collecting assembly and the non-rotatable thrust member.

The collector 26 and cup or housing 25 are of such design as tofacilitate their construction from sheet metal stock by stamping orequivalent methods. The walls 32 of pockets 29;of the collector are ofsmaller radial dimension than the corrugations 28 which form the lateralwalls of the pockets. The circumferential wall 34 of housing 25 projectsover and fits upon the ends of corrugations 28. Thus, openings areformed between the peripheral edge of walls 32 and the circumferentialportion 24 of the cap whereby lubricant may be discharged from thereservoir through aperture 21 into the several pockets.

The elements 25 and 26 forming the lubricant collecting means aremounted upon a reduced axial extension 23 of spindle 6 immedifanassembly, the outer end of spindle '14 arranged in opposed relation.

ately adjacent the thrust member 22. The end of the spindle is peenedover to engage and securely hold these elements in place. Thus, thespindle, thrust member, and lubricant collecting device are rigidlyassociated together and in effect form an integral unit.

In order to adequately take care of the inward axial thrust of sleeve 5and associated 6 is arranged in close proximity to the inner surfaceofdisc 1 whereby to have contact there With and receive inward thrusttherefrom. As heretofore pointed out, the oppositely directed axialthrust is received by member 22. V, I

The reservoir is provided with a pulley formed by two stamped sheetmetal flanges These flanges may be pressed on to the reservoir or may besecured thereto in any other convenient manner such as shrinking or spotwelding. The reservoir also has an opening punched therein as indicatedby the inwardly extending annular flange 15. An internally threadedsleeve 16 is secured in this opening and receives a removable threadedplug 17, thus providing a means whereby the reservoir may convenientlybe supplied with lu bricant.

It will be understood, of course, that the bore of sleeve 5 .is providedwith some form of lubricant channel. This may be of straight, spiral orany other desired form but is herein illustrated a straight channel 18.An annular groove 19 formed internally of the sleeve and spaced from theinner end thereof serves to collect lubricant from channel 18 and returnit to the reservoir by way of ports 20. Obviously, any desired number ofchannels and ports may be en1- ployed.

Lubricant contained within the reservoir assumes the form of an annularlayer upon the internal cylindrical surface of the reservoir duringrotation of the fan. This, of course, iscaused by centrifugal force, andby virtue of the location of aperture 21, the lubricant is forcefullydischarged therethrough and into the pockets 29. From these pockets thelubricant passes inwardly to the smaller pockets formed in the thrustmember and thence to the spindle and sleeve bearing surfaces and backinto thereservoir. Thus, a continuous forced circulation is maintained.Y

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the design andarrangement of parts is such as to permit the use of simple andinexpensive sheet metal stampings for all essential parts excepting thesleeve and spindle. Great economies in manufacture are thus achieve Itshould also be apparent that the arrangement of elements affords a mostconvenient assembly plan since there are, in effect, three units, oneconsisting of the lectin spindle and lubricant collecting assemblyrigidly carried thereby, the second (301181813- ing of thebearing-sleeve and reservoir, andthe third comprising only the tanspider and blades. By virtue of this construction and arrangement, theentire device can be readily dismantled by merely removing the fanspider. Finally, it should be appreciated that the device embodies aminimum number of parts for efficient operation;

Notwithstanding the specific nature of the disclosure herein made, it isto be understood that I do not regard all of the details thereof asessential to my invention. Therefore, the scope of my invention is notto be construed as limited other than by the limitations of thefollowing claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a fan the combination with a relatively fixed supporting spindle,of a radially slotted thrust receiving disc formed integral with saidspindle and slightly spaced from one end thereof, a sleeve rotatablymounted on said spindle and having an end thereof disposed in bearingengagementwith one face of said thrust receiving disc, a flange formedintegral with sa d sleeve and extending radially from said end thereof,a cylindrical lubricant reservoir surrounding said sleeve and spindleand secured to one face of said flange, the opposite face of said flangebeing recessed, a tan spider secured to said opposite face ofsaid'flange and closing the open end or the recess whereby to form aclosed lubri ant chamber, said flange having an aperture passingtherethrough for placing said reservoir and chamber in communication,said spindle having a part extending beyond said thrust disc and bearingagainst the inner face of said tan spider, and a 111- bricant collectingdevice disposed within said chamber and adapted to receive lubricantdis-i charged from the reservoir through said aperture said device beingsecured upon the extended portion of said spindle and so arranged as tofeed lubricant to the radial slots of said disc and means for conductingthe lubricant from said slots to the bearing surfaces of said sleeve andspindle and then back into the reservoir.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with anon-rotatable spindle, of a bearing sleeve on said spindle, a radialflange formed on one end of said sleeve, a lubricant reservoir securedto one face of said flange, the opposite face of said flange beingrecessed, a fan spider secured to said opposite face an d closing theopen end of said recess whereby to form a closed chamber, an aperture insaid flange placing the reservoir and chamber in communication, andmeans mounted on said spindle, and within said chamber and spaced fromsaid spider for col a lubricant discharged from the reservoir throughsaid aperture and directing the same to the bearing surfaces of saidsleeve and spindle, said means comprising a sheet metal disc having aplurality of spaced radial corrugations formed therein, the spacesbetween such corrugations constituting pockets and a second disc forminga lateral closure wall for said pockets. i

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with anon-rotatable spindle, of a bearing sleeve on said spindle, a radialflange formed'on one end of said sleeve, a lubricant reservoir securedto one face vof said flange, theopposite face of said flange beingrecessed, a fan spider secured to said o opposite face and closing theopen end of said recess whereby to form a closed chamher, an aperture insaid flange placing the reservoir and chamber in communication,

and means mounted on said spindle, and

within said chamber for collecting lubricant discharged from thereservoirthrough said aperture and d1rectmg the same to the hearingsurfaces of said sleeve and spindle, said means comprising a sheet metaldisc having a plurality of spaced radial corrugations formed therein,the spaces between such corrugations constituting pockets and the transverse walls of said pockets being of less radial dimension than saidcorrugations which form the radial Walls of the pockets, and a seconddisc forming the opposed transverse wall of said pockets, said second.disc having a circumferential flange extending over the firstcircumferential wall of said pockets, the

space between the peripheral edges of the first mentioned transverseWalls and the inner surl'ace of said circumferential flange definingopenings for the introduction of lubricant into said pocket-s.

l. In a device of the character described, the combination with anon-rotatable spindle, of abearing sleeve on said spindle, a radialflange formed on one endof said sleeve, a lu- 'mounted on said. spindle,and within said chamber, for collecting lubricant discharged from thereservoir through said aperture and directing the same to the bearingsuri'aces of said sleeve and spindle, said means comprising a sheetmetal disc having radially disposed pockets stamped therein, saidpockets each having a bottom wall, two radial side walls and a singletransverse side walhcthe latter walls being of less radial dimensionthan said radial walls, a second cup shaped sheet metal disc cooperatingwith the first said disc to provide a second transverse wall mentioneddisc whereby said flange forms the for said pockets and having itscircumferentially flanged portion in engagement with and overlying theperiphery of said radial walls" whereby to form openings between saidflange and the periphery of said first mentioned transversewalls fortheintroduction of lubricant into said pockets and the bottom walls ofsaid pockets having. apertures therein for the discharge of lubricant tosaid hearing surfaces.

5. In a fan, the combination-with a relativelyfixed supportingspindle,of a radially slotted'thrust receiving disc fixedly mounted on saidspindle and-slightly spaced from one end thereof, a sleeve rotatablymounted on said spindle and having an end thereof disposed in bearingengagement withone face ofsaid thrust receiving disc, a flangeformediintegral with said. sleeve and extend-- ing radially fromsaid'endthereof, a cylindrical lubricant reservoir surrounding saidsleeve and spindle andsecured to one face of said'flange, theopposite'eface of said flange being axially recessed, a fan spidersecured to-said opposite face of said flange and closing the open end ofthe recess whereby to form a closed lubricant chamber, said flange ehaving anaperture passing therethrough for placing said reservoir andchamber in communication, saidspindle having a part extendingbeyond-said thrust disc and bearing against the inner face of said fanspider, and a lubricant collecting: device disposed within said chamberand adapted to receive lubricant discharged from the reservoir throughsaid aperture, said device being secured upon the extended portion ofsaid spindle-and so arranged as to feed lubricant to the radial slots ofsaid disc and means for conducting the lubricant from said slotsitorthebearing surfaces of said sleeve and spindleand then' 7 back into thereservoir. V

thrust thereof.

6. In a' lubricating system embodying a fixed spindle and a rotatablehousing including aulubricant reservoir and a collecting chamber dividedby a perforated partition, said housing having a bearing surfacesurrounding said spindle, said spindle having one end disposed in saidchamber, a thrust receiving and lubricant collecting device 'on saidspindle end-and having means establishing communication. between saidreser- 'voir andthebearing surfaces of the housing and spindle,:theextremity of said spindle end being disposed intermediate said means andthe outer Wall of saidYchamber and being engageable with said wall toreceive the 7. In a lubricating system embodying a fixed spindle and arotatable housing including a'lubricantreservoir and a collectingchamber divided by a perforated partition, said housing having a bearingsurface surrounding said. spindle,-one end of said spindle beingdisposed Within the chamber

